Tutorial: Easy Tiny Envelopes

I discovered this envelope making method completely by accident
when pulling soggy rain-soaked mail out of my leaky mailbox - I had a
total *eureka* moment when the envelope I gingerly opened up completely
unfolded at the seams revealing an envelope "template" perfectly.

I've seen many envelope tutorials online, some offer
downloadable templates, some show fancy paper folding techniques and
some suggest specific measurements to create your own D.I.Y. envelopes.
I'm going to show you how to replicate any interesting envelope that you might already have, no measuring involved! Click below for the how-to:

1. Choose an envelope you already have that you like the size and shape of

2.
Soak it in a bowl of water (lukewarm is probably best) for about one
minute, or until the glue releases from the paper easily. It will not
take as long as you think!

3. Pat the now unfolded envelope dry - it doesn't
have to be completely dry, just not drippy - and trace it onto a thin
piece of cardboard - chipboard works well, as would something like a
cereal box. Try to be accurate at this stage and trace neatly.

4. Cut the template out with a pair of scissors, and
you may want to label it so that in the future you (or whoever you live
with) won't say "what is this strange piece of cardboard?" and toss it
out!

5. Use your new wonderful template to trace out an
envelope design on any and all types of paper! Think gift wrap, maps,
magazines, old calenders, stamped cardstock - you name it! I like to
trace using pencil on the side that will be the inside so the marks
won't show.

6. Carefully cut out your envelope with scissors and
fold it up - I like to do the sides first, then use the folded sides as
a guide on where to fold the top and bottom. Use the handle of your
scissors or a bone folder for really crisp edges.

7. Use a glue tape roller to
stick your envelope together, or glue stick but I find glue stick gets
brittle after just a few months, go ahead and get a glue tape roller,
they're like $5 and you can find them in the adhesive section of an
office supply store or craft store.

8. *Bonus Points* if you've ever wanted to be able
to lick and stick your envelope flaps, check out this Lick& Stick
glue I originally bought from Paper Source (they don't seem to carry it
anymore). If you can't find it, you can also D.I.Y. your own envelope glue (2x craft bonus points!)

9. Ta-da! Admire your finished work! Ideas for use
include: penpal & swap envelopes, gift card envelopes & storing
small things in your studio - if you happen to make some yourself, I'd
LOVE to see them! Post a link in the comments.

Ruth Bleakley is a paper addict who probably became a bookbinder soley
as an excuse to obtain more paper. She lives on Cape Cod and also
designs nautical invitations and stationery (more paper!) under the name
Concertina Press.

Absolutely love this, now to find me some tiny envelopes to use as templates! Oh, and Lick and Stick glue can be found at Joann's! http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat2783&PRODID=prd12054

I love making these, been making them for a while, I put them into my swaps with stickers and little friendshipo note cards. love it!!! and you can use any paper, I use magazine pages and wall paper sample papers as well. all the possibilities!! love love love!!!

this is a great idea for my jewelry that i make...instead of buying those crazy expensive boxes to put them in i can put it in little cute envelopes!! awesome idea....was thinking too you could use two sided take instead of the lick&stick stuff...although a one time use then at least its easy to come by ;)

What a fabulous post! And a great, green one, too! I've started a teacher blog called The Green Classroom and I would love for you to link up this post there or give me permission to at - Your Green Classroom

Hi, your tutorial made me run over to make a replica of my favorite envelop, I soaked it in water, but the glue was really sticking to it and I almost ripped it apart.So, what I did is re-imagined the template you made, got myself a rectangle chalk box, traced it, added margins for the flaps, cut a cardboard template, and then I had myself the nicest, coolest, cutest envelopes in the world!THANKS FOR THE DIY and making it feel too easy to make!

I had been looking for something like this for a friend of mine who makes jewlery. She has been looking for some nice little envelopes she can put her jewlery in she makes and sells at her craft booth. I am going to take it a step further and cut out a small window in the front, and put some clear plastic over the cut out so her customers can see what is inside the evenlope. This will keep them from opening them up all the time and ruining them.

I love paper products and the thought of making my own envelopes is making me giddy! Thank you for the awesome tutorial, will definitely be using it! I also included it on my blog, The Nectar Collective in a recent DIY Roundup. Thank you!http://thenectarcollective.com/2013/02/diy-roundup-vol-2/

I'm so glad that you posted this! I've been long overdue for some envelope templates, I have a few of the commercially available envelope makers but none of them produce the kind of envelopes I like. It's so nice to have templates in the sizes I need!

This is exactly what I needed at this very moment to make a last minute cash gift to someone a bit more special. I found you on Pinterest, grabbed my wallpaper samples and minutes later have a cutie-pie envelope. Thank you!